Kieren’s journey of recovery and resilience with Wellbeing for Life

We recently met with Kieren Kemp, a 26-year-old who overcame significant mental health challenges with the support of Wellbeing for Life (WBFL).

Kieren's story highlights the importance of personalised support and the impact of addressing both mental and physical wellbeing in tandem.

Kieren had been in a mentally abusive relationship for over five years, leading him to a point of severe depression and suicidal ideation. Struggling with low self-esteem and being underweight, Kieren sought help from the County Durham Resilience service. He was referred to ManHealth and Wellbeing for Life, where he began his journey towards recovery.

Kevin Howe, a Wellbeing for Life Practitioner, reached out to Kieren and arranged their first meeting at the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe. Kevin's own experiences with similar challenges allowed him to connect with Kieren on a personal level, providing invaluable support.

Kieren shared, “I felt immediately comfortable talking to Kevin who was able to support having had similar experiences in his past. That lived experience that Kevin could provide was invaluable.”

Kevin's approach was holistic, addressing both Kieren's mental wellbeing and his physical health which are often very closely related. Unlike many clients who seek to lose weight, Kieren needed to gain weight. After a few sessions, Kieren began to feel more positive and gained new insights into how to move forward. He started making changes to his diet, focusing on whole, single-ingredient foods and reducing highly processed meals. This dietary shift, combined with the emotional support from Kevin, led to significant improvements.

By the end of the 12-week program, Kieren had gained 4kg and felt much more self-confident. His improved self-esteem and physical health enabled him to secure a new job, and his friends and family noticed a remarkable change in him. Kevin noted, “The change from the first day I met Kieren to now is huge; it’s like night and day.”

Kieren reflected on his journey, saying, “I’m looking forward to being myself, enjoying my new self-confidence and being able to socialise more. The new healthy eating routine is easy to sustain, and I feel positive that I can keep up with the changes I’ve made.”

Kieren's story is a testament to the power of community support and the importance of addressing both mental and physical health. His journey underscores the potential for recovery and the impact of compassionate, personalised care.

Kieren's final message is one of hope and encouragement: “It can sometimes be surprising where you find support, for me it has been from a community organisation who champion the wellbeing of everyone. I’ve got the motivation to look after myself now and want to share my story so that anyone who might be in a similar place to where I was will see, you’re not alone. Reach out and there will be someone who can help.”

Wellbeing for Life is part of Adult Wellbeing Services and is delivered in partnership by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) and the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP). By ‘working better together’ with our partners within County Durham we were able to ensure Kieren was directed to the most appropriate support for his needs at the right time within his journey.